NFN: New Duchesnay Creek Bridge opening Friday

Updating a BayToday report from earlier this week, the Duchesnay Creek Bridge will reopen to traffic Friday.

While the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has confirmed the overall construction project on Highway 17B/Main Street West will continue until the end of the year, Nipissing First Nation, a partner with Miller Paving in the project is announcing Stage 1 of the Duchesnay Creek Bridge replacement will be complete as of Friday, allowing for traffic to cross the bridge that has been out of commission due to structural flaws since January 2019.

Stage 2 of the project will continue through the end of summer and fall and crews will work to reduce the hill between the entrance to Duchesnay and Highway 17 and will also create a new entrance into Duchesnay, west of the new Duchesnay Creek Bridge and the turn onto Couchie Memorial Drive.

This work will continue to require temporary stoppages and delays on Highway 17B from Couchie Memorial Drive to Highway 17 and a full closure of this section will be in effect for the month of September.

NFN says the bridge replacement project has had a significant impact on Duchesnay residents and businesses for the past two years. In addition to having to take the "long way around,"’ to North Bay due to the bridge closure. 

Nipissing First Nation is aware "there have been some challenges in terms of the drivability of the road surface," due to the Stage 2 work. NFN advises the joint project team will continue to work diligently to ensure the work is completed safely and with as few disruptions to residents and businesses as possible.